Floor surfacing machine



Nv.l4, 1.947.

w.-A. ANDERSON FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE Nv.4, 1947. W.A.ANDERSQN i 2,429,974

FLOOR suRFAcING MACHINE 1 Filed' Oct. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 56m-MM TToz/vsvs Patented Nov. 4, 1947 UNITED i PATENT caricia'.

Wilford A. Anderson,

i3-Claims. 1

This invention relates to -new and useful Vim- 'provements in surfacing machines'andmore particularly to such `inachine's'adapted for renishing floors and the like.

Machines of the 'type herein 'disclosed are Lusually'utilizedor scouring floors; When-scouring and cleaning 'a floor surface-preparatory topolishing it, an abrading device capable of producing a scouring action Yon the -iio'or, such as steel wool, is `commonly '.used. vIn the operation of scouringthe floor, it 'is frequently "necessary to apply considerable downward pressure lon the abrading device orroll in order to obtain the desired scouring action. "Such downward :pressure may readily Ybe obtained by driving the abrading device in a rearward direction, o-rin a'direction which tendsto propelthe machine in a direction towards the operator, whereby'the operator must apply a relatively-greater-pressureuponthe operating handle'of the machine to propel'it'in a forward ydirection Yin order to counteract such rearward propellingforcewhich"obviously results in a relatively greaterdownward pressure being exerted 'on vthe abra'ding device thany would'occur if the abrading deVicewere-drveninardirection tending to propel the machine ina forward direction, as Will be readily understoodbyreference to Figure 1 of thedrawings.

Conversely, when a sanding roll is utilized 'to prepare a floor for finishing or renshing, kpreparatory to receiving a vsealgwaxing or other iinishing such sanding roll'inustbe so operated'over the surface of the lioor as to engage Vthe floor with a relatively light contactgtherebyto prevent the sanding roll Mfrom digging into 'the surface` of the floor and rmarring orotherWise damaging the surface of thefloor.

To obtain the desired contact of the sanding roll with'the floor, the sandingroll is'usually-rotated in a 'forward direction, vor in a Ydirection which will tend to propel 'the machine `in a forward direction, whereby the operator'rn'ay frequently have to exert a slight backward pull on the operating handle Atoprevent the'machinefrom running away"from him,'which obviously tends to relieve the pressure of the sandingroll upon the floor. The pressure of the sanding rol1-on the floor may also be lconvenientlycontrolled byl relatively adjustingr the position of the abrading handle upon the machine. 'If a vsanding roll is to engage the floor with a relatively light contact the abrading handle may be positioned vin substantially an upright or vertical position whereby the forwardpropelling'actiorrof the sanding roll with the Vdoor will cause the-operator toy ho-ld Minneapolis, vWinni., Lassignor to'G. H. Tennant Company,-.Minneapolis, Minn.,:a corporation of Minnesota Application 'O cto'ber 2, 1943, SerialNm `504,748

v back'on1the^abrading handle, whereby the :pressure ofthe roll with the nooris relieved asabove stated. l'f'the sanding 4roll-is toengage the lfloor with'relatively greater pressure the abradinghandle may be swung rearwardlylto'an inclined2position whereby the operator may, *if he deems it necessaryfexert aslight `upward #pull on the 1handie which-will tendltoltransfer asport-ionor allsof the weight of the machine -onto :the sanding vroll depending upon ithea-mount of upward pressure exerted on the ihandle.

y=lit-regardless Vof l'the direction of `rotation of the awarding-device, a-suct'ionfan mustfbe utilized fior remo-vingfdirtg-lint, and otherfore-ign mattervirom the ymachine hood;

Floor surfacing machines have heretofore been made with :reversible motors lfor 'driving the abradingrollsgbutftothe best-.ofmy knowledgeno one hasheretoforelused/a reversible .fan ins-uch a machine, kand v'as conventional vs'ftiction fans-.lare adapted for Arotation kin i one -fdirection :only, maw chines' designed to drive the abrading ldevice lin eitfh'endirection have usually 'been .provided with a separate motor VAfor operating the ian, :thereby making litinecessary-te-'eduip each such machine with Ztwoindependentimotors, one :for driving tlfie 'abrading "deviee'land 'the 'other rthe" suction Tian..

Y1`In fthe :novel machine lherein described, yernploy a vreversible r"ian which will loperate equally well in either" direction, whereby it mayibefdriven from the reversible motor provided for operating he `abra-ding device. Thus 1 by Vusing f a 'reversible fan Aand motor, v*the --abradinlg device may be driven-'ineither directionb-ythe simple manipulation of La s'ing'l-e lino-tor control switch, "which simpl-inesthe construction and costrof -the-machinein'tliat but one motor is required, and itfalso simplifies theoperatifonlthereolf.

vThenovel iioorlnishing machine hereindisclosed comprises but a single motor whichoperatesboth the i'anandftheabrading roll. To-'accomplis'h this, afrevers'ible mfotor 'is employed the fan isdesigned ffor rotationin Aveith'er tion. Because-of' the freversibillityoi theian, -it operatesfequally well 'to Ipiek up dust,` dir-t., fand other "foreign matter delivered thereto from the abrading roll, regardless of the direction of ro` tation of the abrading roll or fthe vdirection-fof movement oi' the machine :over 'the loor.l By thus utilizing a` Ysingle motor :and a lreversiblegfan. the machine may 'begreatly simplied andits cost reduced. f Y

YAn fobiec't :of the fpresent invention itherefore is to provide a relatively simple, light weightfsurfacing ynflaeh-ine which readily 'lends itself. for

use in the treatment of floors, and which may be operated with a minimum of power and eifort.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a floor finishing machine comprising a wheeled frame having a reversible motor mounted thereon for driving a spindle, preferably located at the forward end of the machine and adapted to removably support a suitable abrading device, and a housing enclosing the abrading device and having a suction fan connected thereto for receiving dust and other foreign matter removed from the floor by the abrading device, when the machine is in operation, said fan being driven from the same motor and operable to pick up dust, etc., in either direction of rotation.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class described comprising a housing normally enclosing the abrading device and having an enlarged chamber in the upper portion thereof over the abrading device to which the intake of a reversible fan is connected, said reversible fari permitting the machine to be operated in a foreand-aft direction without in any way impairing the operation thereof.

A further object is to provide a floor surfacing machine comprising a novel housing for enclosing the abrading roll, said housing having an enlarged suction chamber therein which is so designed and shaped as to prevent undue turbulence of the air in the housing as a result of the rapidly revolving abrading roll therein, and whereby a constant suction may be maintained through the gap provided between the bottom edge of the housing and the floor surface when the machine in is operation, whereby all dust and other material removed from the floor surface is drawn upwardly into the upper enlarged chamber in the housing and into the suction fan to which the housing is directly connected, whereby a floor or other surface within a building may be renished and polished substantially without raising any dust within the building, which is a Very desirable feature in a floor finishing machine.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel driving means provided between the motor and the abrading device and suction fan; in the simplified construction of the suction fan and its connection with the upper portion of the housing enclosing the abrading device; and in the provision of a floor finishing machine which is largely constructed of sheet metal whereby a very rigid structure is provided which has great strength and is extremely light in weight, a highly desirable feature in power device surfacing Inachines of this general type.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine showing the drives for the abrading device and fan, the hinged cover for said drives being removed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, partially in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the connection between the 4dust collecting housing and the fan housing;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 3 with some of the parts omitted; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 2 showing the means for adjusting the motor to tension the drive belt for the abrading device, and also showing the means for leveling the machine with respect to the iioor.

The novel oor surfacing machine herein disclosed is shown comprising a box-like supporting frame, generally designated by the numeral 2, a bracket 3 is shown secured to one of its side walls 4 by suitable bolts 5. Within the bracket 3 is mounted a suitable wheel or roller 6 which supports one side of the frame 2, as will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3.

The opposite side of the frame is supported on a similar wheel 'I mounted at the rear end of an arm 8 having its forward end pivoted to a bracket 9 by a pivot II as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The bracket 9 is secured to the top wall I2 of the frame 2. An adjusting screw I3 is received in threaded engagement with the top wall I2 and has its lower end engaging the arm 8 whereby rotation of the screw I3 will relatively change the position of the wheel I with respect to the frame 2, thereby to align the abrading device, subsequently to ybe described, with the frame.

A suitable reversible motor I4 is mounted upon a plate I5 shown provided with depending lugs I6 which have their lower portions supported on pivots I'I secured in suitable angle bars IB which maybe welded or otherwise fixed to the top wall I2. The rear ends of the angle bars I8 may be welded t0 the rear wall I9 of the frame 2 and their forward ends to the front wall 2l thereof.

Another adjusting screw 22 is received in threaded engagement with the top wall I2 forwardly thereof and has its upper end engaging the bottom of the plate I 5. Thus when the screw 22 is relatively rotated in the wall l2, the plate I5 carrying the motor I4 may be oscillated about the aligned axes of the pivots Il, as will readily be understood.

A suitable operating handle 23 has its lower end received in a suitable bracket 24 provided with a lateral tapered extension 25 received in a correspondingly tapered bore provided in a bracket 26 secured to the rear wall I9 of the frame 2. Suitable handle grips 21 are provided at the upper end of the handle, and for the sake of convenience, a switch box 28 is also mounted at the upper end of the handle which carries a switch, not shown, for controlling the operation of the motor I4.

A suitable junction box 29 is shown provided on the motor I4 to which one end of a suitable cone ductor cable 3| is connected. The cable 3I is provided at its opposite end with a plug 32 adapted for insertion in an electric outlet, as is well known.

The frame 2 of the machine is shown provided at its left side with a forward extension 35 cornprising spaced parallel walls 34 and 35 formed ol' sheet metal and having their rear edges suitably secured to the front wall 2l of the main frame by su'ch means as welding, whereby the walls 34 and 35 become in effect an integral part of the main frame 2. The forwardly extending walls 34 and 35 are tied together at their forward ends by a cross wall 36.A Y

A suitable bearing sleeve 31 is shown fixedly secured to the Vwalls 34 and 35, and supports a -43 and supports a washer vthe end of the hub @Il of the drum, asclearly illustrated Vin Figure v3. The screw numeral l, @whose interior `type of job to be d5. Thus when the abrading shaft 38 mounted in suitable lbearings (not shown), provided within the sleeve `31. AA stepped pulley, vgenerally designated by the numeral 39,

A tapered -head 3 is secured to the opposite end of the shaft 36 adapted to receive the hub M of a drum t5. A suitable screw 'it is received in-Ythreaded engagement with the end-of the head 1li which bears against fit thus serves to demountably secure the drum 45 to the spindle or shaft head d3. To prevent relative rotation of the drum on the head ll3,a key-way t8 may be cut inthe bore of the hub itil adapted to receive a key or -pin l secured in the head t3, .as best shown in Figure 3.

The drum i5 provides a support for a suitable abrading device, generally designated by the comprising a cylindrical shell 5t may be readily fitted onto the drum t5, as shown 'in' Figure 3. The a'brading material of theabrading device 5l may be in the form of steel wool, or any other material applicable for the particular done. In some instances a wire brush may be fitted on the drum @35, or Va sanding or polishing drum may be mounted thereon.

To prevent relative rotation of the abrading device upon the drum d5 a cross pin 53 has its terminals suitably secured in the shell 52 of the abrading device andis receivable in T-slots t provided inthe wall of the outer end of the drum device isiitted onto the drum l5 with its drive pin received in the T-slots 54, the abrading device may be driven in either direction, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 3f The forward extension 33 of the frame 2 'has its front wall 36 extending upwardly and inwardly and terminating in a downwardly curved wail portion 55 whose rear edge is secured to the upper end of a flange 56, which preferably is a continuation of the front wall 2l of the frame 2. The downwardly curved or arcuately formed wall portion y553 forms a seat 51' for a fan housing 5S which is fixedly secured to said wall by suitable means such as welding.

The fan housing has an which a suitable dust receiving bag, not shown, may be secured in the usual manner. An intake opening 5S is provided in one of the side walls of the fan housing and a relatively larger opening exhaust opening EQ to 6l is provided in the opposite wall.V A circular platea? is secured'to the wall of the housing and provides a closure for the opening `6I. The plate iihas a suitable bearing t3 therein adapted to rotatably receive a shaft Sil having a reduced extension 65 to which a fan 66 is secured, as shown in Figure 3.

The opposite end of the shaft 64 is supported in a bearing 61 provided in a bracket 63 which may be integrally forme-d or cast with the closure plate 62, or otherwise secured thereto. A suitable V- pulley 69 is secured to the shaft E4 between the bearings 63 and 61,

The front wall 36 of the frame extension 33 and the ange 56 are relatively wider than the fan housing 58, and portions thereof extend upwardly and over the shaft 64 of the fan and are united to provide a flange 1I extending laterally from the right hand wall of the fan housing, when viewing the machine from the operators position back of theV operating handle 23. It will also be noted by diameter is such that the shell '56 bya clamping device vices 13 and 14 are preferably similar in construc- Irably secured to the wall 55, vice 1-4 is preferably inseparably secured'to'the Lreference 'to Figure -2, thatthe ange itextends from the flange 1l to the opposite side -wall f4 of the machine Aframe.

A suitable lhood`12 lis adapted -to be fitted ibevtween thewall portions 2l and lwith onefend tion andeach comprises a wing nut and bolt,-as

-will readily be understood by reference'to Figure is preferably-:insepaand the clamping de- 2. The clamping device 13 hood l12, its bolt or screw being receivable'in a slot 15 provided in the end of the flange 56, as shown.

To facilitate fitting the hood 12 into or under 56 and securing it thereto 'by the clamping devices 13 and 14, the bottcmfeiige of the front wall 2l of the machine frame ispreferably formed with anup-turned flange 16, and the lower edge of the front wall'36 of theV forward extension is kprovided with a similar up-t-urned flange Tl, as indicated in Figure 5. The iianges 16 and 11 serve to-provide seats for receiving'the 'lower edges of the hood 112, whenvthe latter is 5t and 1I and secured thereto by the clamping devices 13 and-14,95 will readily be understood by reference to Figure .2. The hood 12 is open at its inner end and has its opposite end closed by a suitable end wall 1B, as best shown in Figure 3. f

The hood 12 completely encloses the abrading device, and its upper enlarged portion forms a chamber 19 which is in direct communication with the fan housing 58 through the intake open-- ing 60 of the fan. The lower edges of the walls of the forward frame extension 33 and also the lower edge of the walls of the hood 12 are so related with respect to the diameter of the abrading device 5I as to provide a suction gap 8l between the lower edges of said walls, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure l.

The enlarged chamber A19 above the abrading device is of utmost importance. This chamber'is so proportioned that the suction created therein by the fan will draw dust, dirt and other foreign matter removed from the floor by the abrading device, upwardly into the chamber 19 from whence it is drawn through the intake 6i) and into the fan housing for delivery into the receiving means attached to the discharge end 59 of the fan. The unique shape of the enlarged air chamber 1B and its relationship to the abrading device 5| and the fan intake G is such as to reduce air turbulence within the housing toa minimum, whereby a relatively strong suction is created through the air intake gap Bl and upwardly through the gap 8l provided below the machine frame and through the hood or housing 12 by the fan 66, whereby all dust and foreign matter removed from the surface being treated is readily drawn into the fan when the machine is in operation. Such free upward air circulation through fitted into the -fl'anges the chamber 19 in the hood without excessive air cludes the means for supporting the suction fan housing 58 and the hood 12, is made of ,sheet metal which is relatively inexpensive and may readily be shaped as desired with a minimum of labor. Also by utilizing sheet metal in the construction of the machine frame, the machine may be made comparatively light in Weight, which is particularly desirable in a machine of this general type which must be manually propelled about upon the floor or surfaces to be treated.

Another feature resides in the novel drives pro` vided for driving the abrading device and suction fan. As best shown in Figure 1, a suitable V- pulley, designated by the numeral 82, is secured to the shaft of the motor I4 for direct rotation therewith. This pulley comprises an outer sheave 83 and a relatively larger inner sheave 84. The Y smaller sheave 83 has a V-belt 85 operatively 'connecting it to a V-pulley 4| secured to the shaft 38 of the abrading device, whereby when the motor is operated, the abrading device is simultaneously driven as a result of its driving connection therewith through the belt 85. The V-pulley 82 secured to the motor shaft is shown comprising 3 pulleys of varying diameters. The outer pulley 83, an intermediate pulley 86, and the inner pulley 84. The intermediate pulley 86 of the stepped pulley 82 is aligned with the inner pulley 42 of the stepped V-pulley 39 secured to the abrading device shaft 38, and provides means whereby the speed of the abrading device may be varied by simply shifting the V-belt 85 from one set of aligned pulleys to the other, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3.

The fan 65 is driven by a V-belt 88 having a running connection with the pulley 69 on the fan shaft and the inner relatively larger sheave 84 of the stepped pulley 82. A suitable spring-actuated belt tightener is provided for maintaining the fan belt 88 under tension. This belt tightener comprises an arm 89 and a sheave 9| which engages the belt 83, as shown in Figure 1. The arm 8,9 is pivoted at 92 and has one end of a suitable spring 93 connected thereto whose opposite end is attached to the side wall 34 of the forward frame extension 33, as indicated at 94 in Figure l. The novel drives above described are extremely simple and inexpensive, and provide very eiiicient drives for operating the fan and abrading device.

Also because of the fan housing 58 being symmetrical about a center line drawn through its exhaust opening 59 and the axis of the fan shaft, the fan may be rotated in either direction whereby the abrading device Vmay be driven in either direction with equal eiiciency.

Because the fan is thus capable of operation in either direction, the latter readily lends itself for use on an abrading machine of this general type as it makes it possible to drive the abrading device in either direction of rotation depending upon the type of work to be performed.

The novel machine herein described is extremely light in weight as compared to other machines of this general type of a given size. This resides primarily because of the single motor used for driving the fan and abrading device, and because of the main supporting frame of the machine being made of a sheet metal. The boxlike construction of the frame provides a very rugged and substantial supporting frame of light weight which has proven very practical in actual service.

The simple drives provided for driving the abrading device and fan from the single motor are also of importance in that they greatly simplify the machine and provide drives which are extremely efficient and practical in operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the class described a frame provided at its forward end with an enlarged hood, an abrading device mounted for rotary movement in the lower portion of said hood, a suction fan in communication with the upper portion of the hood, said fan having its exhaust symmetrically disposed with respect to the fan blades whereby it will exhaust foreign material from the hood when rotated either clockwise or counter-clockwise, a plate mounted for movement on the frame relatively thereto and having means for retaining it in adjusted position, a reversible motor mounted on said plate and provided with a dual drive pulley, a belt providing a driving connection between the motor drive pulley and the abrading device, said movable plate providing means for tensioning said belt, a second belt operatively connecting the motor drive pulley to the fan and whereby the fan is always rotated in the same direction as the abrading device, regardless of the traveling movement of the apparatus, the reversibility of the fan permitting the abrading device to be operated in either direction of rotation with equal results.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a main supporting frame including front and rear walls and a top wall, a frame mem-ber extending forwardly from said front wall adjacent to one side of the main frame, a second frame member extending forwardly from the front wall and spaced inwardly from the rst frame member, a bearing mounted in said forwardly extending frame members, a spindle mounted for rotation in said bearing, a suction fan comprising a housing mounted on said forwardly extending frame members over the bearing, an abrading device detachably secured to one end of said spindle, a hood demountably secured to the front wall of the supporting frame and toone of said forwardly extending frame members and enclosing the abrading device, said hood having an enlarged chamber in its upper portion, and means establishing direct communication between said chamber and the suction fan whereby dirt and foreign matter removed from the surface being treated may be drawn upwardly through the hood and into the suction fan.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a main supporting frame including front and rear walls and a top wall, a frame portion secured to and extending forwardly from the front wall of the main supporting frame with one side thereof substantially aligned with one of the side walls of the main frame, a bearing supported in said forwardly extending frame portion in parallel relation to the door, a spindle mounted for rotation in said bearing and having means at one end for demountably supporting an abrading device, a reversible suction fan comprisinga housing mounted on said forwardly extending frame over said bearing, said fan having its exhaust symmetrically disposed with respect to the ian blades whereby it Will exhaust foreign material from the hood when rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise, a hood detachably secured to the machine frame and enclosing the abrading device, said hood having an enlarged chamber in its upper portion in direct communication with the suction fan, a plate mounted for movement on the main frame relatively thereto, a single reversible motor mounted on said movable plate and having independent belt drives with the spindle and suction fan, and means for retaining said movable plate in adjusted position to tension one of said belts.

WILFORD A. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES ol'rnn The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Emmons Feb. 21, 1939 Schlueter Aug. 29, 1905 Taft Oct. 8, 1907 Myers Sept. 17, 1935 Moorhead May 19, 1936 Karlstrom Dec. 11, 1934 Replogle Aug. 10, 1937 Hall Sept. 27, 1910 Herr et a1 Nov. 21, 1911 Chappell Oct. 15, 1912 Schimmelpfennig Mar. l, 1927 Trimble Nov. 15, 1938 Hall June 2, 1936 

